Donny’s Glidden Lodge Celebrates 25 Years of Service

An old postcard shows what the Glidden Lodge looked like when Ewald Schmock and his wife owned it. Submitted.

Donny’s Glidden Lodge is toasting 25 years of service Aug. 6, when – for one day only, 12-5 pm – its prime-rib buffet and salad bar will be available for $25. The buffet is first-come, first-served or until the prime rib runs out. Ruby James, Zach Vogel and Eric Hagen will be performing on the patio.

Donny and Rita Zellner purchased the restaurant in 1998 after a ride up the shore from their hometown of Kewaunee. They had owned the Alaskan Supper Club for 18 years prior. Their son Tim worked alongside Donny for many years in several businesses and took ownership of the Glidden Lodge in 2005, keeping his parents’ legacy flourishing – and you can still find Donny in the kitchen a couple of days a week.

The Glidden Lodge’s stone structure, built in the 1930s, remains intact; the dining room still looks the same; and the restaurant at 4670 Glidden Dr. in Sturgeon Bay continues to be a destination for special occasions.